Kentucky

• Kentucky marijuana growers protect themselves and their crops with firearms, explosives, and booby traps, resulting in a rise in related crimes such as assaults, illegal possession of firearms, and murders. Marijuana growers in Kentucky operating on Federal land have verbally and physically assaulted visitors to Kentucky forests.
• The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported 289 drug violation arrests in Kentucky in 2001.
• Between January 2000 and June 2001, 69 of the 1,000 pharmacies in Kentucky reported OxyContin-related burglaries or robberies.
• In 2000, there were 34,082 arrests for drug abuse violations in Kentucky.

Drugs

• Cocaine: Powder and crack cocaine are increasingly available, frequently abused, and pose the greatest threats to most metropolitan areas in Kentucky. The abuse of crack remains a problem in urban areas and is becoming more popular in suburban and rural areas. The Kentucky law enforcement authorities indicate that cocaine abusers are increasingly purchasing powder cocaine and converting it to crack themselves as dealers attempt to avoid the stricter penalties associated with crack distribution. Powder cocaine sold for $50-150 per gram in 2000.
• Heroin: Heroin poses a low threat to Kentucky because it is rarely available or abused in the state. The majority of the heroin available in Kentucky originates in Mexico. According to the DEA, a gram of heroin sold for $100-300 during 2000 and $300-400 per gram in 2001.
• Marijuana: Domestically grown marijuana is number one cash crop in the state Kentucky and is the most widely available and frequently abused illicit drug in the state. Locally produced marijuana is generally available after the September/October harvest and through the winter months. Mexican-produced marijuana is used as a filler and supplement for the higher-grade locally produced marijuana after the previous season’s supply has been exhausted. The average price for marijuana in Kentucky is $5 per gram.
• Methamphetamine: The level of meth production, distribution, abuse, and related violence has increased substantially in Kentucky, particularly in the rural areas of Kentucky. A recent increase in locally produced Methamphetamine may have eclipsed the amount of Mexican-produced Methamphetamine transported into the state of Kentucky. The availability of Methamphetamine continues to increase in Kentucky, particularly in the northern and western areas of the state that border the Ohio River Valley. Methamphetamine is increasingly popular among adolescents and young people at raves who use it to increase and prolong their energy levels. The statewide average price per gram in 2000 was $106.
• Club Drugs: The use of MDMA and GHB is increasing throughout Kentucky, particularly among college students. LSD is available on a limited basis and is abused most frequently in urban centers, especially on college, university, and high school campuses.
• Diverted Pharmaceuticals: Throughout Kentucky, the use of diverted pharmaceuticals such as Lorcet, Lortab, and OxyContin continues to be a major problem. The primary source for most of the diverted pharmaceuticals are “doctor shoppers,” patients who visit multiple doctors to acquire numerous prescriptions. Sources for OxyContin also include Mexico and armed robberies of pharmacies. A growing trend is for individuals to travel out of state or to purchase the drugs over the Internet. The abuse of OxyContin has also led to an increase in Medicare/Medicaid fraud.

Across the United States, drug use is a cause for concern. For more and more individuals, drug use (including hard drugs like cocaine, meth, and heroin) is becoming a part of their daily lives. This raises concern that the country may be entering a period of drug use unseen since the '70s.

This increase in drug use affects not only the drug user, but also their family and friends. They suffer along with the drug addict through their ups, downs, sobriety, and intoxication. This can be very stressful for those who care about an individual with a drug addiction.

The physical and physiological health of a person who has a drug addiction is also a concern. Drug use can lead to health problems ranging from heart trouble to memory loss. These issues may have long term consequences, and at times may be deadly. Drug overdose is one such trend that is monitored across the United States. Sadly, many people die each year due to an overdose of drugs or alcohol.

Crime is also a factor when it comes to drug addiction. Many find they must spend more and more money to meet the needs of their drug addiction. This can lead to robbery, prostitution, scams and so on. Often times, those who are taken to jail are either intoxicated at the time of their arrest or are committing a crime to support their drug habit.

Although drug trends throughout the United States vary year to year, drugs are always a problem. Even when statistics are low for drug abuse, drug related crime, and drug treatment admissions, it is important to remember that it is still a cause for concern. Monitoring drug trends helps in determining where there are high amounts of drug use and how these areas may correlate with crime, addiction treatment, and health care.

This site, United States Drug Trends, will keep you informed of the current drug trends taking place throughout the United States. Use this site to educate yourself and increase your awareness of what is happening in the state you live in.